Sunday, July 12, 2009

The Solar System

Everyday, if we listen carefully, we can hear the sound of the solar day. In the morning when the solar controller detects enough energy from the panels to activate the charging sequence for the batteries, there is a subtle “click”. Right now, in the summer, this usually occurs around 6am or so, and since the controller sits right under the bed, it acts like an electronic rooster, letting us know the day has begun. In the evening right around dusk, the same “click” is heard as the panels shut down for the day, and no more electricity is being produced. It makes us acutely aware of how much and when the sun is beaming down on us, and it sets a solar rhythm for the day.